A Blade and an Arrow

Shorts 1

The silverette watched his warm breath turn into fog before capturing it with his cold hands, relishing on the slight warmth it gave. He was annoyed and cold and tired. Even with the thick cloaks and winter boots, it did nothing to suppress the chilly air. The Savage Ghost has yet to show its presence in this dark cave. His shoulders were trembling, Feng Xin noticed. He had commented on it earlier but the icy and harsh glare that had even surpassed the cold climate they were dealing with, it was enough for him keep quiet.

"You're paler than me." Xuan Zhen comments.

"And so what?"

"So come here, dumbass." Two cold and calloused hands cradled both Feng Xin's cheeks. Soft yet warm lips pressing against his own in a hesitant moment before the other hastily pulled away.

"There. You have colour now. You could thank me."

"As if I would!"

❖

Mu Qing wasn't one to be easily cracked.

Vulnerability and suffering masked with a face void of emotion and a harsh glare to throw at anyone's way.

But when it comes to his mother.

The mask seemed to never existed at all.

Warm tears had already cascaded his pale cheeks, rolling down his jaw down to his neck. Chest heaving heavily with each sob his traitorous mouth blurt out.

He felt numb.

And deaf.

With just his mother's voice inside his head, repeatedly playing. His mind was tormenting him. He couldn't stop it.

He hated it.

"Mu Qing – you should've told me." Strong arms and a gentle voice pulled him out of his torture just as he was pulled into an embrace.

"I couldn't."

"You could and you should. I'm not pushing you but I.. I can't just keep watching you shoulder a burden when we both know I could help you."

He didn't respond. Voice gone. Instead, he let himself be pulled closer, the arms making him feel secured, with no one to degrade him again. With no one to look at him like he was a frail servant having to depend on any noble for protection rather than a mighty Martial God.

Yet, a noble seemed to be the one making him feel once again safe.

Safe from the pain and futility the world had offered him everyday.

❖

Would it hurt you to just tell me what's wrong? [sounds of glass shattering and a table being flipped upside down]

[angry puffings of breath] There is nothing wrong to begin with! You're assuming of the worst already!

How couldn't I?! You keep sneaking away from my palace every chance you'd get and whenever we meet again you always looked like you cried!

I certainly do not cry-

Qing-er.. [a loud exhausted sigh] I'm worried about you.

Then stop worrying about me.

[robes shuffling with loud footsteps] Then stop doing shit that would make me fucking worry stubborn asshole.

I'm not-Feng Xin don't touch me.

Just.. Just stay here for tonight okay? Don't sneak away again. [soft huff of breath]

[a helpless sigh. robes brushing against each other] A-xin..-

I love you. I'm sorry. [gentle lips pressed to another for a second]

I'm sorry too.

❖

"Stop wandering to random fights." Feng Xin scolds. In the midst of a brawl, he had managed to pull Mu Qing away. He lifted up his arm, bruised, the dark blue and purple contrasting with the pale skin. "You could have gotten more wounds."

The silverette rolled his eyes, attempting to pull his arm away when the brunette gripped it tigher. "I'm fine. I'm fine. See? It's healing."

Feng Xin inspected the bruised arm, relief flooding over him once he saw it wasn't so much of a small red spot. "Don't stand in the middle of a fight again."

"Fine fine. If you're so worried don't complain about carrying me!" Both snorts. Leaning in, Feng Xin pulled him by the waist, peppering soft kisses on the pale face until chuckles bursted out of the other. "You fool – I'm fine, I'm fine." Warm honey-glazed eyes met his own, a grin tugging on their lips.

He rewarded his fool with another kiss.